Inside Design with Kandrac & Kole With Entrepreneur, Educator, and Public Speaker David Thurston

We are thrilled to be speaking to David Thurston on today's episode of Inside Design. David is the CEO and Founder of Pulp Riot, an international professional hair color line that was acquired by L'Oreal in a multi-million dollar deal. We had the privilege of hearing David speak at Cosentino's Global Design Summit and knew we had to bring him onto the show. Tune in to this episode to hear David share his business philosophies and what he has learned about success, stepping outside your comfort zone, and using social media to build an influential brand.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [03:00] What comes first: The brand or product
• [05:00] The spiral staircase philosophy and David's wishlist for success
• [09:20] Choosing to be uncomfortable and David's early steps to leave the corporate world and pursue success
• [18:28] How can creative entrepreneurs use social media and collaborate with your competitors
• [23:09] The power of design and Pulp Riot's unconventional product packaging
• [29:40] Travel, David's new book, and thoughts on reaching success at a young age

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• If you want to become successful you have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable is a muscle you exercise by leaving your comfort zone and taking a step towards your goals and dreams.
• The photos you post on social media are like merchandise you're hanging outside your storefront. It's a way to entice people to engage with your brand. And your follower account is critical. No one wants to "go" into a store that's empty.
• Success isn't reaching the top step and suddenly becoming satisfied. The fulfilling part is the climb up the staircase, not reaching the top. There's always another step to take.

RESOURCE LINKS:

David Thurston Official Website

BIO:

David Thurston is a beauty industry entrepreneur, educator, and disrupter. He is best known for being the Founder and CEO of Pulp Riot, an innovative, professional hair color company. In May 2018, L'Oreal acquired Pulp Riot. David continued to serve as the CEO until June 2021.

David strives to collaborate with interesting people on cool projects, traveling the world, and trying new things that get him outside his comfort zone. David is often invited to give keynote presentations at events. His lectures typically aim to teach and inspire leaders using broadly applicable lessons he's learned on his journey to success, including lessons related to branding, social media, disruption, risk taking, entrepreneurship, and the digital revolution. David's presentations can be tailor made to any industry.

Kandrac & Kole was voted one of Atlanta's Top 20 Residential Interior Designs by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, and has been featured on HGTV as well as in The New York Times, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Home Magazine and many others as well as participants of the One Room Challenge Spring 2020. Kandrac & Kole has established a well known reputation for their approachable, dynamic personalities, their signature use of color and pattern and their one of a kind, custom designs.

As industry experts for residential and commercial design, Joann Kandrac & Kelly Kole share upbeat and entertaining narratives regarding their design projects, travels and personal stories on their popular blog, their podcast and via national speaking engagements. Joann and Kelly's love and commitment to the power of interior design also extends towards their charity work throughout the U.S. and Guatemala.

Kandrac & Kole Website

Kandrac & Kole on Instagram

SPONSOR:

We want to thank Cosentino for being the sponsor of this episode. If you are a designer or a homeowner, you need to have Cosentino on your radar as your first choice for quartz products. Cosentino is the maker of Silestone – a hybrid surface of premium minerals, quartz, and recycled materials. Dekton is Cosentino's innovative ultracompact surface, a technological material composed of a blend of raw materials, porcelain, and glass. It is perfect in both home, hospitality and outdoor projects because of its high strength and versatility. You will find Silestone in millions of homes in over 100 countries and in most of Kandrac & Kole projects. We always turn to Cosentino for their innovation and commitment to sustainability. Visit Cosentino's Website to learn more about their product and their new City Centers – an exclusive meeting place for professionals who seek to share ideas, stay ahead of market trends and to take part in innovative experiences and activities.